collective

Why Chelsea Need To End Reign Of Player Power - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

When Andre Villas-Boas took over as Chelsea Manager in June 2011, he probably didn't envisage
the club's dressing room being his biggest problem during his first season in English football. A
dressing room filled with international footballers and seasoned professionals would surely have
been an attraction for any potential Chelsea manager following the ruthless sacking of Carlo
Ancelotti.

It's Monday (collective groans all over!) but it doesn't have to be, if you're Leo
Messi or Dani Alves.... perennial Barca superstars! They were in the
Spanish party island of Ibiza over the weekend with their partners including Antonella (Come on the
Catalan press would be scrambling all over themselves if it was just two of them on
holiday) basking in the sun and on a luxury yacht.

Did Guti cut his hair to be on Eurovision? No matter, the midfielder
wants to see some of the best players at Real Madrid next season and he believes that Harry
Potter Perez can work his wand to bring some magic to the Bernabeu. Cue the collective
snorts from all over the world!

There's plenty of reason for positivity at the current moment, with yesterday's victory
furthering the belief that Liverpool could be on the way to being a force in English football
again. The team as a whole was marvelous at times, defending well (until that lapse in final
minute), linking play and finding a fluidity going forward that left Bolton overwhelmed at the back
and fortunate not to have conceded six.

One of the great things about a Liverpool victory is that we can usually expect some sort of
highlight package to filter out in the hours and days after the match has ended. It's no secret
that we're quite fond of those videos around here from the brilliance of Luis Suarez at Fulham to
the five goal romp against Birmingham, we've celebrated the opportunity to reflect on quality
performances from the squad and its individuals.

It's been quite a week for the Arsenal. Some fans calling for the manager's head, some insisting
"In Arsene we trust" and others sat nervously on the fence wondering whether there is a light at
the end of this seemingly dark tunnel, quietly hoping that their club will pull through causing
them anxiety if not painful splinters!

I cannot emphasise enough how happy I am to hear AVB speak of the group at Chelsea rather than
distancing himself from his players and speaking of individual players.

Of course Jose came here and announced he was "The Special One" which is a name he will always be
fondly remembered as here but think about it for a second, it immediately passed a message onto
everyone from the owner, to the board, the players, the staff and us fans that he really is
outstanding far and above everyone else here.

Rumours will no doubt have reached most Newcastle supporters that Habib Beye is reportedly unhappy
with his time in the Midlands. Part of the villainous collective that saw us relegated last season,
Beye became an official Villain when Martin O'Neill took him to Aston Villa in the summer in a
Â£2.5m deal.

After the majority of the Portuguese Football Fan collective shouted out loud that they wanted
everyone's favorite gypsy to get a chance, LouPhilSco finally let him off the bench and onto the
pitch. He had a nervy bit of footwork on the ball at the beginning, but fellow Sporting

Part two of four...or five...before leading up to the first team power rankings of the 2008 season.
This morning I will focus in on the defense for teams. Its the main collective bunch of defenders
on the team, not including midfielders and forwards who play defense when they have to on the
field. If that makes [.